Morning News Digest: May 17, 2011
By Missy Rebovich
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And the legislators with the deepest pockets are…
According to the most recently filed Election Law Enforcement Commission report, nine senators and one Assembly member make up the top 10 legislators with the heaviest war chests. (Isherwood, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/47709/and-legislators-deepest-pockets-are
SEIU endorses Lesniak’s Team in LD 20
The SEIU New Jersey State Council today announced its support for Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Elizabeth), Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Cryan (D-Union), and Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-Elizabeth) in the 20th Legislative District. (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/47717/seiu-endorses-lesniaks-team-ld-20
Gov. Chris Christie files financial disclosure forms
Gov. Chris Christie sold some stock last year, and his wife, Mary Pat, earned less at her job at Cantor Fitzgerald than the previous year, according to a financial disclosure form filed today. (Gibson, The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/05/gov_chris_christie_mary_pat_ch.html
N.J. Democrats have big funding edge over GOP
New Jersey Democratic legislative candidates have more than twice the money Republicans do in their campaign accounts as the parties begin the work of trying to seize control of the Legislature, according to a report released by the state Monday. (Burton, The Philadelphia Inquirer)
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/121972869.html
Chris Christie Seton Hall graduation appearance draws mixed reactions
Gov. Chris Christie was given mostly a warm reception as the keynote speaker at the Seton Hall University commencement on Monday, though there was some booing when he was introduced and three students walked out apparently in protest. (Jordan, Gannett)
Carl Lewis to students: Set high goals
Set high goals if you want to succeed.
That’s the message Olympic track superstar Carl Lewis shared with public school students in East Orange. (The Associated Press)
N.J. to receive $913M more in tax revenue than expected
New Jersey is projected to take in $913 million more than expected in tax revenue through June 2012, according to new projections by the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services. (Renshaw, The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/05/nj_to_receive_913m_more_in_tax.html
U.S. SBA provided New Jersey small businesses $1.1 billion in loans in 2010
Between February 2009 and December, the U.S. Small Business Administration provided over $1.1 billion through 2,137 loans to small businesses in New Jersey, according to a report issued Monday by President Obama’s National Economic Council. (Hester, New Jersey Newsroom)
State to delay June aid payments, forcing some school districts to take loans to pay bills
The state will again postpone making June school aid payments until July, leaving school districts to determine if they have enough surplus to cover their bills or whether they will have to borrow money. (D’Amico, Press of Atlantic City)
N.J. tax windfall could reignite fight over Gov. Christie’s school funding plan
A new legislative projection says New Jersey will rake in $914 million more than expected in taxes through June 2012, which will likely set off a fierce partisan fight over how to spend the money. (Fleisher, The Wall Street Journal)
NJ hosts 2nd public hearing on beach access rules
It’s South Jersey’s turn to sound off on the state’s proposed new beach access rules. (The Associated Press)
http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=dailyrecord&sParam=36501207.story
Striking similarity between two Everyman politicians
He took on public unions early in his term in a way his predecessors didn’t or wouldn’t. He quickly found himself on national magazine covers and morning shows, with politicos speculating that he would achieve higher office after saving his government from fiscal collapse. (Katz, The Philadelphia Inquirer)
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/nj/121972684.html
Poll finds Democrats lead in 3rd District
Republican challengers in South Jersey legislative districts may need more of a boost than Gov. Chris Christie can provide, two recent Stockton/Zogby polls have found. (Roh, Gannett)
Congressman Pascrell, Senator Menendez propose measures to update water mains
Overlooking the site of one of North Jersey’s worst water main breaks of 2010, New Jersey political leaders announced legislation designed to upgrade water infrastructure and create jobs by encouraging private investment. (Yellin, The Record)
Package of bills would start to spend down open space bond issue
The state legislature yesterday began moving a package of bills that would draw down for the first time an open space and farmland preservation bond issue approved by voters in 2009. (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/0516/2134/
Report: DOT not spending enough to fix roads
A report by a transportation advocacy group said the state Department of Transportation should spend more of its capital budget to improve existing roads and bridges and less on expansion, something the group contends is not what the DOT’s fiscal year 2012 capital plan does. (Higgs, Gannett)
Why is it so tough to build new power plants in New Jersey?
Frustrated with its efforts to develop new power plants in New Jersey, a state agency yesterday decided to initiate a far-ranging proceeding into how to develop new generating capacity, a move it believes could lower steep electric bills for consumers. (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/0516/2206/
Borough plans for $14.4M plant
The Borough Council has introduced an ordinance to sell $14.475 million in bonds to replace its nearly 50-year-old wastewater treatment plant. (O’Brien, Gannett)
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20110516/NJNEWS/305160021/Borough-plans-for-14-4M-plant
Out of politics and closet, McGreevey pursues dream to join clergy
The man once known as “robo-candidate” still acts like a campaigner in the thick of a close race. He does not enter rooms of people so much as plunge into them, hugging and hand-clasping his way from wall to wall. His smile is outsize, and almost as indelible as a campaign poster. (Vitello, The New York Times)
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New income tax projections show huge revenue windfall
The state will collect $1.4 billion more than initially estimated in gross income tax over the next two years, according to estimates from the office of Legislative Services, but the windfall will be partially offset by a drop in corporate tax collections. (Isherwood, State Street Wire)
http://www.politickernj.com/47735/new-income-tax-projections-show-huge-revenue-windfall
Bill requiring lab documents on soil contamination passes in committee
The Assembly Environment and Sold Waste Committee released bill A3633, which would require soil removal project documents to include lab reports on the level of contamination found in the soil. (Hassan, State Street Wire)
http://www.politickernj.com/47731/bill-requiring-lab-documents-soil-contamination-passes-committee
More funds available for storage tank remediation
There is more money on the horizon to continue with the state’s underground storage tank remediation program. (Hassan, State Street Wire)
http://www.politickernj.com/47729/more-funds-available-storage-tank-remediation
Stormwater runoff bill cleared in committee
The Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee passed, with amendments, a bill that would prohibit developers from constructing development projects that would cause stormwater runoff to be diverted onto nearby private property. (Hassan, State Street Wire)
http://www.politickernj.com/47728/stormwater-runoff-bill-cleared-committee
From the Back Room
Lewis files ELEC report, but records no money
Carl Lewis, the embattled candidate for senate in the 8th Legislative District, filed a financial report with the state Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC), but itemized no money. (Staff, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/back_room/lewis-files-elec-report-records-no-money
Nominee has colorful past
The Senate Judiciary Committee is set Thursday to hear the nomination of Attorney Karen DeSoto for a spot on the N.J. City University Board of Trustees. (Staff, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/back_room/nominee-has-colorful-past
Opinion
Christie careful not to create more controversy
Governor Christie rudely slammed shut any discussion of “creationism” during a news conference in Jersey City last week. (Stile, The Record)
Christie booed by graduating students
In delivering the commencement address at Seton Hall today, Gov. Christie advised students in a generally polite audience to “be a disrupter in the way that your heart and your mind tells you to be a disrupter.” (Ingle, Gannett)
http://blogs.app.com/politicspatrol/2011/05/16/christie-booed-by-graduating-students/#more-15908
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